Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings star Simu Liu shared his thoughts on the recent uptick in anti-Asian sentiment and violence.
"I worry a lot about my parents these days," began the op-ed Liu wrote for Variety. The actor mentioned that his parents used to be the ones worrying about him often, but recent anti-Asian attacks have changed that. "According to Stop AAPI Hate, a website that tracks the violence, against Asian Americans, there were over 2,800 reported cases of racism and discrimination between March 19 and Dec. 31 of last year," he wrote.
Liu spoke about how Asian immigrants in Canada and the United States are many times ignored and treated with a lack of empathy. He that he's personally seen his parents taunted because of their accents and the way they look. "Of course, I’ve also heard the classic 'go back to China' more times than I can count," Liu added.
A lot of Liu's disappointment with the current situation stems from the lack of voices decrying anti-Asian racism. He said that, while the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has played a huge part in recent anti-Asian sentiment, it's always been there. "These recent attacks, fueled by racist rhetoric in the wake of the coronavirus, are yet another reminder that we are only seen as the foreigners, the unwelcome presence… the other."
Liu pointed to specific examples of anti-Asian sentiment throughout American history, including the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and the Japanese-American internment camps during World War II. He also mentioned how calling COVID-19 the "China Virus" is just another example of anti-Asian rhetoric that creates resentment of people from all Asian countries.
Lui said that anti-Asian racism won't end until others begin to acknowledge it. "When I see photos of these Asian elders who have been attacked, I see the embodiment of my own parents' journey; their dreams and their struggles, their sorrow and their unwavering optimism." Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, anti-Asian hate crimes have risen across the United States. There are now several resources available to those that have experienced this type of violence, including the Stop AAPI Hate reporting site and the Stand Against Hatred reporting site. It's also a good idea to never travel on your own if possible.
Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton and written by Daniel Callaham, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings stars Simu Liu, Tony Leung, Awkwafina, Michelle Yeoh, Jiang Nan, Meng'er Zhang. Ronny Chieng, Fala Chen and Jiang Len. The film arrives in theaters July 9.
Source: Variety
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